Asthma Education Service - Children’s Asthma Team

Asthma education for children and families is available to users of acute hospital services or at risk of becoming frequent users.

The Children’s Asthma Team is a Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) funded program, designed to help improve the health and well being of children/adolescents and their families/carers who are at risk of, or frequently use hospital and emergency services.

An Asthma Educator takes a lead role in assessing, educating and supporting the child and their families/carers to manage asthma. If they have other complex health and/or psychological needs they are referred to other health professional within Care in Context for Care Coordination and/or psychology.

The aim of our free service is to:
  • Emphasise the importance of continuing care by a GP for paediatric asthma
  • Explain the nature and effects of asthma, role of medications and correct use of devices
  • Ensure that clients have and understand the use of an Asthma Action Plan, including Asthma First Aid

Eligibility

  • Children or adolescents who present with asthma or probable asthma to Southern Health Hospitals either as an Emergency Department presentation or who are admitted as an inpatient.
  • Children or adolescents who have a diagnosis of asthma or probable asthma who are referred by another source (GP, self referral or Asthma Friendly School).
  • Paediatric clients (0-18 years) are eligible for inclusion in the paediatric stream of the CIC program. Older adolescents may be referred to the adult stream if this is deemed to be more appropriate.
Asthma patients referrals over 18 years of age can be forward to  Respiratory HARP.

Priority

  • previous intensive care unit presentation
  • complex psychosocial issues
  • more than 3-4 episodes per week of needing bronchodilator.

Referrals

Referrals are accepted from general practitioner, paediatrician, Monash Children's Emergency Departments or wards, Maternal and Child health, pharmacy or self referrals

Referrals can be made via Care Streams Access. 

Fax: 9554 8595  or phone: 9554 9888.

Waiting Lists

Although there is not an official "wait list" patients may need to allow up to six weeks for an appointment during busy times.

Days of service/sites

This program operates Monday to Friday, and we have educators based in the community at Dandenong, Cranbourne and Parkdale.